When I say God is a God of Grace, I am saying that God does what He does for us, not because of our goodness, but because of His goodness!
Illus: When we think about the God of Grace, we think of the man who owned the city's newspaper who had 3 sons.
He offered ownership of the paper to the son who could write the most sensational headline using only three words or less.
• The first son's headline was, "Reagan Turns Communist."
• The second son’s headline was, "Castro Becomes Christian."
• But the third son inherited the newspaper when his headline was submitted. His headline only had two words, "Pope Elopes."
He earned the newspaper company with this sensational headline.
We can all be glad we do not have to earn our spiritual inheritance by sensational works. This can clearly be seen in the life of Rahab the harlot. Today, the name “harlot” does not carry with it the stigma that it carried in the Old Testament during the days of Israel.
For example, in John 8, we see the woman that was caught in the very act of adultery. They were going to kill her by casting stones at her, had the Lord Jesus not stopped them. During the days of the Old Testament ,and when Christ was here on earth, prostitution was a capital crime.
But in a sinful society like ours, our society does not see sexual sin such as prostitution, as a capital crime. For example, we often refer to prostitutes as being the “Oldest Profession,” and as “Women of the night”!
Hollywood glamorizes prostitution by showing us gorgeous women on the streets, wearing “Skimpy” outfits, trying to seduce men with their exposed bodies, as they drive or walk by them.
But like all sins, the devil has a way of making sin look good when it is not! For example:
• They do not show women who are often beaten up in the process of practicing their trade.
• They do not show women who have lost all their self-esteem.
• They do not show women who have contracted all kinds of venereal diseases.
• They do not show women whose lives are shortened because of the lifestyle they have chosen to live.
These are some of the raw facts about prostitution we seldom hear anything about. The devil tries to keep all these dirty details covered up.
Illus: I want to read you a real story of a 31 year old prostitute that tells of the awful life that she had to live. (I have had to omit many of the details for obvious reasons).
“Jill, ran away from home at 14. After being homeless for about a month in Cincinnati, she met a man ("Bruce") who alluded to getting her "work"; he took her to an abandoned place and raped her. Jill was a virgin at the time. Over the next three years, this man held her in captivity and sold her to "clients" interested in torture, rape and bondage. When she wasn't "working," Jill spent a good deal of time gagged, handcuffed and blindfolded in a closet, with minimal food and water, or being moved around the country in the trunk of a car. When she was finally able to escape after the L.A.P.D. picked Bruce up on an unrelated warrant, she was malnourished, sick and "spooky crazy from post-traumatic stress disorder."
This is the real world of prostitution where women choose to sell their bodies for money. It is hard to believe that today we have some who are pushing for the decriminalization of prostitution. If the Lord tarries long enough, it is something that probably will take place, perhaps in our lifetime.
Now I have mentioned all these terrible things about prostitution, because the Bible says Rahab WAS A PROSTITUTE! Before you can appreciate what the Lord did for her, you have to understand how she had lived her life.
The New Testament references to Rahab clear up all misunderstanding or misinterpretation about the woman. I mention that because some try to tell us that Rahab operated an “inn” that took in guests.
They feel like you can't let someone like Rahab sneak into the genealogy of Christ, so they try to rewrite the story.
• The word in Hebrew is "zonah," which, of course, means "harlot."
• But if stretched - a long way - that word can also be used to mean "hostess," one who operates an inn. So, the early Jewish and Christian communities began to refer to her as "Rahab the Hostess."
Now, there were two problems with that.
• First of all, in the days of Joshua, there were no inns. They didn't exist. It would have been hard for Rahab to manage what simply wasn't there.
• Additionally, even when inns came on the scene in that part of the world, never, but never, were they operated by a woman.
But not only does the Book of Joshua declare her to be a prostitute, other books of the Bible tell us the same thing.
• The writer of Hebrews, in the chapter on the great Faith Hall of Fame says, "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace." (Hebrews 11:31)
• In James 2:25, we read, “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?”
In Joshua chapter 2, we are dealing with -
• An old fashion harlot (sinner)
• A great God of grace
But I want to say again, God is a God of grace! In Joshua chapter two, we see the grace of God in action in the life of this prostitute.
We can all be thankful that God can save from the GUTTERMOST TO THE UTTERMOST!
Let’s look at the life of Rahab, so we can appreciate the Grace of God in a greater way.
I. THE DWELLING OF THIS WOMAN
Look at Joshua 2:1, we read, “And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.”
The Canaanites in Jericho were pagans. The inhabitants were immoral. Rahab lived in a very wicked society. For example:
• They offered child sacrifices
• The priestesses were temple prostitutes
• Sodomites were male temple prostitutes, etc.
But Jericho was not only known for its heathenism and hedonism, it was also known for its greatness in the way it was constructed:
• It was a very old town, the city of Jericho was inhabited from about 8000 B.C.
• It was located six miles west of the Jordan, on a rich oasis.
• Archaeologists have discovered that the city was surrounded by double walls, with twelve feet between them.
• Houses were built on top of the walls, with timbers laid on top and spread between the two walls.
• Baal was the principal god of the Canaanites, and his wife Ashtoreth was their goddess.
• Immoral indulgence was a means of worship for the pagan Canaanites, and they murdered their firstborn children as sacrifices to the gods.
This was the evil environment in which she lived.
Today, we live in a society that feels that our environment gives us an excuse to do certain things.
Illus: We hear about people stealing because they are poor. Listen, if a man was starving to death, I do not believe anyone would hold it against him for stealing food to save his life.
But most folks do not fall into this category, they do not steal because they are poor, they steal because they are thieves.
Rahab was a prostitute, not because of the awful conditions of society, but she was a prostitute because she was evil. We can not blame society for our evil doings.
We have looked at THE DWELLING OF THIS WOMAN, but let’s look at-
II. THE DISCOVERY OF THIS WOMAN
Look at Joshua 2:2, we read, “And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.”
When Joshua sent two spies to scout out the land before conquering it, notice that the spies went to the house of Rahab.
WHY DID THEY GO TO THE HOUSE OF RAHAB THE HARLOT? We can only guess that the reason they went there was because they were spies. Practicing espionage, they did not want to do anything out of the ordinary to draw attention to themselves. Since Rahab was a harlot, and often men came to see her, they felt this would look normal to other people.
But somehow the King found out they were spies, and he sent a message to Rahab to turn them over to him. Look at verse 3, “And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.”
Remember, this woman was a prostitute, and she was use to dealing with all kinds of men. But what a surprise it must have been when she discovered that these two men were spies from Israel.
We do not know all the details of how she came to discover that these men were spies. But no doubt, way before the king sent word to her to turn these two men over to him, she had discovered that.
The reason we assume that she knew this before the king sent the message to turn them over to him, was:
• Because they were not concerned about the PROFESSION she was practicing.
• They came to her because they were concerned about the LAND God had promised them.
Later on, when she went to talk to them, the Bible makes it clear they were on the roof, not in her bed. Look at verse 8, "Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof . . . "
We looked at THE DWELLING OF THIS WOMAN and THE DISCOVERY OF THIS WOMAN, but also let’s look at -
III. THE DISCERNMENT OF THIS WOMAN
Look at verses 4-7, we read, “And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords; - (a crossing-place of a river or of a mountain, it is a passage place) - and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.”
But look at the DISCERNMENT of Rahab. At the risk of her own life, she hid these two spies from the King. Why? She knew that God was with these men (Israel) and she did not want to find herself fighting against God, which she knew would be a losing battle.
Look at verses 8-11, we read, “And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”
She feared the King of Jericho, but she had a greater fear of the Lord! That is why she risked her life by hiding these two spies from the King.
HOW DID SHE REACH THIS DECISION? Look at verse 10, she said, “For we have heard….”
IS THIS SIGNIFICANT? Yes, the Bible says, “Faith cometh by hearing.”
Look at what she based her faith on. In verses 8-12, we read, “And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof.” Look what she said to them:
• In verse 9, we read, “And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.”
• In verse 10, we read, “For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.”
• They heard these things, and she said, in verse 11 “And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”
That is, before a person can have faith, they must HEAR the WORD OF GOD!
Those who read the Word of God daily and faithfully, and come to hear the preaching and teaching of God’s Word in a Bible-preaching and Bible-teaching church, will have more faith than anyone else in the church. Why? Because Faith cometh by the hearing of God’s Word.
This is why Romans 10:14-15 states, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
For lost people to come to know the Lord as their Savior, it is essential that someone tells them what the Lord has done for them.
Rahab the harlot had HEARD about the God of Israel, and she did not want to be fighting against a God that she knew could do the impossible.
We have looked at THE DWELLING OF THIS WOMAN, THE DISCOVERY OF THIS WOMAN, and THE DISCERNMENT OF THIS WOMAN. Now let’s look at-
IV. THE DELIVERANCE OF THIS WOMAN
It is a beautiful thing when God begins to work in the life of a lost person. Man says, “Get your life straightened out and then I will deal with you!” But just as the great old hymn says, I come to God, “Just as I am!”
God does not tell us to get our life straightened up and then He will accept us. He accepts us just the way we are!
God comes into our sinful lives and changes us from the inside out. But look at this miraculous deliverance:
A. THE DELIVERANCE OF THE TWO SPIES
Look at Joshua 2:15, we read, “Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.”
The Bible says her house was built on those two walls that went around the town. In order to help them escape, she let them down by a cord through the window. These fellows give new meaning to, “Our life was hanging by a thread!” This was how they were delivered from the King of Jericho.
B. THE DELIVERANCE OF THE HARLOT
These two spies were going back to report what they had discovered. And she knew that once they had done that, they would be coming to overthrow the city in which she lived.
Before she helped these two spies escape, she asked a favor. In verses 12-16, we read, “Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.”
Look at the word “Kindness” in verse 12. This is the word “Checed” (Pronounced as “Kheh'-sed”) which means good deed, merciful, mercy, or pity.
In other words she was saying to them, “I have showed you kindness by helping you escape, but now I want you to show kindness to me by helping me and my family escape the judgment of God that is coming on Jericho.”
Look at verse 14, we read, “And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.”
So that she might be identified as the one who helped them they agreed on a plan. Look at Joshua 2: 17-21, we read, “And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear. And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.”
The spies made it clear to her that they would not be responsible for her and her household if she did not have the scarlet rope in the window.
Conclusion:
All believers are protected and sheltered from the wrath of God by God's scarlet cord that symbolizes the blood of Jesus.
Rahab committed her soul to the LORD. How do we know she was saved by grace through faith? Rahab exhibited her faith in the LORD to save her and her family. It was demonstrated by the fact:
• She hid the spies, and helped them escape
• She tied the rope in the window
Illus: There is an old Christian Hymn which places before us the truth of the gospel in very clear fashion. Written by Robert Lowry, it is called, "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus" (Words: Robert Lowry, in Gospel Music, by William Doane and Robert Lowry (New York: Biglow & Main, 1876).
I. THE DWELLING OF THIS WOMAN
II. THE DISCOVERY OF THIS WOMAN
III. THE DISCERNMENT OF THIS WOMAN
IV. THE DELIVERANCE OF THIS WOMAN
